ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN ASIA

Environmental Problems in Asia

Two major factors:Unparalleled economic development of

the different countries in AsiaIncessant increase of human

population

Population Growth

High population density

More lands to

be cultivate

d

Desertification

Salinization

Alkalization

Intensified use to meet food supply

needed

Increasing population

Decreasing space for human occupancy

Lack of space for occupancy

Land conversi

on

Land conversion

Destruction of natural habitat

of different species

Rapid population

growth

Problems in waste disposal

Contamination

Land degradation

Remember SAD

AAZLINNOTISISALINIZATION

ZLAAKATNILOIALKALIZATION

NRDSCEIEIFIATTODESERTIFICATION

Salinization and Alkalization When salts come to the surface of

the land or are carried in by water When water well are overused, the

water table lowers and saltwater or brackish water start to permeate

Bangladesh

Desertification

Transformation of fertile land into a desert through soil erosion or overcultivation

If it persists will bring about serious health hazards; food scarcity, dust storms

China

Overgrazing

More animals

More pressure

As the size of animal herds increases, more pressure is wielded on the grazing lands

Iraq: sustains 11 million sheep which exceeds the lands’ grazing capacity

ZIIBRANNAUTOURBANIZATION

Urbanization in Asia

Led to the proliferation of depressed or slum areas

Health risks

Bad sanitati

onEtc.

Noise pollutio

n

Stress

Hearing problems

SWEAT AISSODLPWASTE DISPOSAL

Problem on Solid waste disposal

Two types of wastes:DomesticIndustrial

Contami-nation of air, water, and soil

Suitable facilities

Ris

e

Lackin

g

Health risks, degradation of the environment

Loss of Biodiversity

Introduction of non-indigenous species of flora and fauna in a particular region

Pollution of soil, water and air

Rapid growth of the population

Intensification of the use of land

Deforestation

Exploitation of natural resources

?

LOLOUNPTIPOLLUTION

Pollution

Air - sulfur & coal- Traffic in major cities (Beijing, Korea,

etc.)- gas pollutants affect the quality of air- lead to respiratory diseases

Air pollutio

n

Acid rain

Disruption of chemical balance

Corrosion of buildings, etc.

Ozone depletion

Harmful ultraviolet

rays

Heavy concentration of CO2 and other gas pollutants

Global warming

Water Pollution

Two most common water pollutants:Solid wasteUntreated wastewater from industries

and factories Marine Water:

Oil spillsResidues of pesticidesRed tide

dinoflagellates may lead to poisoning of people

Water Pollution

FreshwaterPollution caused by rapid urbanization

and industrializationIndustrial effluents, heavy chemicals

and solid wastes directly released to inland bodies of water

Mine tailings (rejected materials from mining processes)

Siltation

Water Pollution

FreshwaterSiltation○ Accumulation of fine-grained sandy

sediment carried by water

two main causes:1. Deforestation2. Soil erosion

○ Tonle Sap

Clearing of forest trees Loss of natural habitat

flora and fauna endangered Causes of deforestation:

Commercial loggingSlash and burn agricultureCutting down of trees for fuel wood

and forest fires

NEODFTESAROTIDEFORESTATIONForest

destruction

Soil erosion, flooding, siltation,

sedimentation

North Asia: environmental problems

Pollution: due to waste- radioactive uranium plants in Kazakhstan

- waste dumped in rivers: threaten water source

- extensive soil erosion

Uranium radioactivity causes mutations and growth of cancer cells

Uzbekistan’s water is under radioactive threat

THE IMPORTANCE OF ECOLOGICAL BALANCE

IN ASIA